A proponent of matronly wisdom and a combatant of hooligans and foolishness. Offering an eclectic collection of illustrated commentary and finding the humor in politics, religion, academics and other social constructs.

When unable to understand some gestures Koko was making, Penny reviewed video tape from the zoo and Koko's brother could be seen making the same signs.

- She created new signs for things. Koko loved plastic barrettes and made a new sign tracing a line on her head where she shore wore a barrette in her hair.

- She made unsophisticated attempting to avoid blame by lying. For example, after breaking a sink, she signed, "cat did it".

- Koko used words like "bird" and "nut" as both descriptive and pejorative terms by changing the position in which the sign is made. She also followed the bratty human tradition of calling people she didn't like "toilet".

- Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was one of Koko's favorites. When Fred Rogers visited, she hugged him and then, following the format of his show, she took off his shoes.

- Robin Williams was another star Koko loved watching. He visited her soon after her gorilla companion Michael died. Penny reported that years later, when Robin died, Koko remembered the visit and signed about the loss.

- All Ball was hit by a car and killed. When told, "she acted like she didn't hear us for about 10 minutes. Then she started whimpering, a distinct hooting sound that gorillas make when they are sad. We all started crying together.

- Koko asked for a kitten and was given a stuffed animal. She refused to play with it and kept signing "sad." A few months later, she was received a Manx kitten (a breed of cat without a tail) and named him "All Ball". Koko and All Ball were featured on the Nat Geo cover in 1985.

- To try and meet the requirements set by the gorilla breeding program at the San Francisco Zoo, Michael the gorilla was moved from the Vienna Zoo to The Gorilla Foundation.

- Michael was a bushmeat orphan. Penny reported that he was able to describe when his mother was killed in front of him as well as nightmares he had about her death.

- Koko had a somewhat contentious relationship with Michael, possibly due to their living relationship which was markedly different than gorillas in the wild. Michael died in 2000 from a heart defect.

- In hopes that Koko would conceive, Koko selected Ndume, a 10-year-old gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, from several videos of potential mates.

- Koko was unable to conceive and had a history of becoming upset and melancholy. She would play with dolls, mimic mothering activities including "teaching" them signs.

- Penny Patterson's dissertation was published in 1979. Scientists were skeptical of her findings. She was accused of anthropomorphizing Koko's intentions and misinterpreting mimicked signs. Patterson limits scrutiny of her methods and results, and most of the scientific community remains doubtful of her language claims.

- However, Koko had clearly learned complex human behaviors, expressed strong connections with others and was able to communicate on a level previously not thought possible.

- Koko expanded the discussion on animal experimentation. As devoted as the relationship became between Koko and Penny, The Gorilla Foundation representatives made several statements about the initial lack of consideration for long-term consequences.

"If [Penny] did the experiment again today … her effort to integrate Koko with other gorillas would have been [greater]. She certainly regrets Koko not having a familyand not being able to provide that for her."

Jane Goodall holding an orphaned chimpanzee.

- Several important field scientist at the time, including Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey, were researching primate behavior and discovering complex, empathetic, and communicative primate communities. Koko became a popular and relatable ambassador.

Dian Fossey and a gorilla she named Digit

- The research done by Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey also focused on the critically endangered big ape species caused by poaching, illegal sales, and environmental destruction. Interest in Koko also increased conservation awareness.

Binti Jua, a Brookfield Zoo gorilla, rescues a toddler who fell into the enclosure.

On August 16, 1996, when Binti Jua was eight years old, a three-year-old boy climbed the wall around the gorilla exhibit and fell 24 feet into the gorilla enclosure below. Binti walked towards the unconscious boy and carried him to a service door where he was rescued. Her 17-month-old baby, Koola, clutched her back throughout the incident. The boy spent four days in the hospital and recovered fully.

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politics, religion, academics, history and other social constructs . . . Don't make
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